A TEENAGER accused of stabbing a clubber to death in a churchyard told police he was asleep in bed at the time of the murder. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons,denied he was at the Mass nightclub in Brixton when Charles Anokye,23, was killed. Mr Anokye,from Streatham Vale,suffered 13 knife wounds in the attack at 4am outside the club on August 1 last year.

The boy is one of eight youths on trial for murder at the Old Bailey. All deny murder and violent disorder.

Jurors heard the boy was arrested at his home in West Norwood and taken for questioning with his mother - who he said would not have allowed him to be out at 4am.

He told officers: "My mum will kill me if I'm on the road at four. "I don't know nothing.I was in my bed asleep.I have never been to that club in my life."

CCTV footage which could have supported his story was never recovered because the cameras were not checked for 10 weeks,by which time the tapes had been wiped.

The trial continues.

Also in brief:

POLICE chiefs shut down a nightclub after revellers were caught with guns.

Officers launched a massive raid on the J-Bar, Stockwell, after a tip-off that weapons were on the premises.

They searched the building and found two loaded handguns. Police and council bosses applied to the courts for a closure order for up to 28 days

and were granted the measure by magistrates on Friday. Officers are now talking bosses through the beefed up security measures they need to introduce to reopen.

The Stockwell Road club was unavailable for comment. Lambeth's top cop, Chief Superintendent Martin Bridger, has pledged to rid nightspots of guns. Speaking to the South London Press yesterday, the borough commander said: "Since arriving in Lambeth my message concerning clubs and places of entertainment has consistently been, 'We want a vibrant nightlife for the youth but it must be safe'.

"The owners of places of entertainment must play their part. "If not we will take the appropriate action."